Class 9 English — Chapter 11: My Childhood

What you'll learn

• ▸Kalam's Family and Upbringing
• ▸First Earnings and the Impact of World War II
• ▸Communal Harmony and Childhood Friendships
• ▸Incident of Social Discrimination in School
• ▸The Role of Sivasubramania Iyer
• ▸Inherited Characteristics and Values
• ▸Father's Wisdom on Ambition and Growth

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- 0959CH06 **6. My Childhood** BEFORE You READ • Can you think of any scientists, who have also been statesmen? • A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose projects in space, defence and nuclear technology guided India into the twenty-first century, became our eleventh President in 2002. • In his autobiography, Wings of Fire, he speaks of his childhood. 1. I was born into a middle-class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram in the erstwhile Madras erstwhile: former State. My father, Jainulabdeen, had neither much formal education nor much wealth; despite these disadvantages, he possessed great innate wisdom innate: inborn; (a and a true generosity of spirit. He had an ideal quality or feeling) in helpmate in my mother, Ashiamma. I do not recall one's nature the exact number of people she fed every day, but I am quite certain that far more outsiders ate with us than all the members of our own …

Practice Questions from this Chapter

Tap "Get Solution" on any question to ask our AI tutor.

1. Describe Rameswaram's importance. Get Solution →
2. Explain India's independence movement. Get Solution →
3. Give examples of social barriers. Get Solution →
4. In which town was A.P.J. Abdul Kalam born? Get Solution →
5. What were the names of Abdul Kalam's parents? Get Solution →
6. Who was Abdul Kalam's cousin that distributed newspapers? Get Solution →
7. What were the names of Kalam's three close childhood friends? Get Solution →
8. In which grade was Kalam when a new teacher came to his class and segregated him? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 Rameswaram is considered one of the four holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites.
• 💡 The 'anna' coin, once used in India, was divided into four paise.
• 💡 Tamarind fruits grow inside long, brown, pod-like shells on trees.
• 💡 Social segregation based on religion was common in many historical societies.
• 💡 Before the internet, newspapers were the primary source of daily world news.

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